India registered a dominating win by an innings and 222 runs against Sri Lanka in the first Test at the Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium in Mohali. India won the toss and dominated from the word go as the skipper, Rohit Sharma smashed 29 off 28 balls but he got out while attempting a pull shot. Legendary Indian cricketer, Sunil Gavaskar said that while the pull might be a productive shot for Rohit, he should put it in “cold storage” till he reaches a significant score.
During a recent chat on Star Sports, Sunil Gavaskar said that any bowler with a bit of pace won’t mind being hit for a few boundaries by Rohit if means that the latter will be giving his wicket away.
Sunil Gavaskar explained, “He’s got to think about it. If it is getting you out more often than not then the percentages are not working for you. There were a couple of pull shots for boundaries, so you can argue that it is a productive shot but it’s not the only shot. He’s got so many other shots. Now every bowler who has a little bit of pace will be fancying his chances.”
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He further added, “So, he has got to work the percentages out. If he still thinks the percentages are working in his favor, then go on playing it. At the moment, the percentages aren’t working in his favor, so maybe he should put it in cold storage till he gets to 80, 90, 100,” said the Indian batting legend.
Rohit Sharma, Mayank Agarwal, Hanuma Vihari, and Virat Kohli all got good starts but failed to convert them into big knocks as they were dismissed prematurely. However, Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja, in particular, went on to play big knocks.
Pant scored 96 off just 98 balls while Jadeja amassed a brilliant 175 not out as India posted a mammoth 574 for eight declared in the first innings. Jadeja then returned to haunt the Sri Lankans with the ball, taking a fifer in the first innings as the visitors were packed off for 174.
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India enforced the follow-on, and nothing went in favor of the Islanders in the second innings as well, as they eventually got bundled out for 178 in the second innings as India recorded a huge win. The focus now shifts to the second Test in Bengaluru, which will be a day/night affair at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium starts from March 12 (Saturday) onwards.
